Select Local Merchants

The gym looks like equal parts Olympic training facility and old warehouse—here, exercisers hoist themselves up rows of pull-up bars, grunt around a collection of kettlebells, and hop through jump-rope routines. On a power-lifting platform, a lifter explodes from a squat, hoisting a plate-loaded bar up to his shoulders and then dropping under it to catch the weight over his head. Elsewhere, athletes do dips on gymnast rings and build a sweat on rowing machines.
This low-tech setting is typical of all true CrossFit gyms. Though the equipment may be basic, the results are not: CrossFit workouts develop all measures of physical fitness—from power to cardiovascular endurance—through workouts that are broad, general, and inclusive. This approach is often described as specializing in not specializing: it develops physical fitness in ways equally beneficial to everyone, from professional mixed martial artists and police officers to weekend softball players.
CrossFit gyms typically start clients in a foundational program where trainers teach the basic movements, such as the squat, dead lift, and pull-up. Every exercise is scalable to a version that clients can complete—a pull-up, for example, can be scaled back to a negative pull-up, a static hang, or body-weight row with gymnast rings. It can also be scaled to a more challenging version, such as the kipped pull-up. After students learn CrossFit's basic movements, they move on to open group classes, which follow the ever-changing WOD, or Workout of the Day. These workouts are short and intense, and they foster camaraderie through frequent team circuits. In addition to supervising WOD class, trainers coach members on nutrition, advocating a caveman-style diet of low-glycemic carbohydrates, monounsaturated fats, and lean proteins such as raptor meat.

Eight potters' wheels whirl next to shelves stacked with bisque pieces, worktables spotted with glaze, and walls hung with abstract art. The eclecticism of the space is one of owner and artist Tracy Wilmes's favorite things about his pottery studio, Cup O' Pottery—that, and the opportunity to inspire his students by leaping on a chair in his typical ebullient, and sometimes downright zany, teaching style. As a former high school art teacher, he loves educating students of any age, leading both family-oriented studio classes and open pottery paint and design sessions. The studio also includes a small retail area, where Tracy sells his own pottery and hands out mock detentions to disobedient clay.:

Players exchange infrared beams from a roster of replica guns, each designed to emulate real military weaponry in size, weight, and operation. Each gun blasts targets in limited rounds using eye-safe infrared light, a technology adapted from military combat simulations. Players test their marksmanship in 75 realistic laser-tag missions, some of which require them to practice espionage, defuse bombs, protect and rescue hostages, or chase squirrels out of their front yards. When not exchanging beams of light, players can enjoy a snack or drink at the cafe.

At Kinder Kicks, parents and children exercise, learn, and bond during get-togethers that fuse age-appropriate activities with applicable life lessons, from sharing to traffic safety and self-control. Three different age groups—Remarkable Me, Jumping Joey, and Leadership Lion—divvy up the action for newborns through 4-year-olds, with each tier focusing on skills and principles that are easily digestible for its participants.
Remarkable Me sessions, for instance, offer tactile, auditory, and visual stimulation for toddlers while their parents engage in cardio- and strength-training workouts. As kids advance, so does the curriculum: by the time they reach Leadership Lion status, youngsters are practicing basic martial arts to develop a positive attitude toward physical fitness and learn how to kick through their bedroom's forcefield when they're grounded. Little ones are ushered through this progression by friendly instructors, along with The Remarkables—a team of animal characters that makes visits all the more enjoyable.

At Equestrian Quest Stables, riders of all experience levels deepen their equine appreciation by trotting and cantering amid facilities featuring two 80’x150’ lighted riding arenas and a vast network of wooded trails. Lessons cover every aspect of horsemanship, from grooming and tacking to handling and riding—an all-encompassing approach that lets riders develop self-confidence and communicate better with the horse than by simply buying an English–Whinny dictionary. For the riding portion, students hop atop one of the farm's 17 lesson horses to explore disciplines such as hunt seat, English and Western pleasure, or dressage. Younger equestrians can spend even more time learning during one of Equestrian Quest’s camps, where students pair up with their own horse and learn from a pair of teachers with more than 50 years of combined experience.

Deep in eastern Seminole County, Three Crowns Farm's prime location next to next to Lake Proctor Wilderness Area affords mounted visitors direct access to miles of scenic trails. Riders can bone up on skills during a lesson in dressage, jumping, or reining, and then head out on the network of well-worn routes for a variety of trail rides. The morning ride sets out at 7 a.m., providing a pleasurable start to the day or cap to a night spent trying to empathize with horses by sleeping standing up. For night owls, the moonlight ride embarks at 7 p.m. and catches the sunset before returning at 8:30 p.m.. The farm recommends that riders wear protective clothing and shoes that cover the feet.

Groupon Guide

Will I get sick? What if I’m afraid of heights? Will my instructor get mad if I scream in his ear? These are some of the questions that might race through your mind when you’re first learning how to skydive. But here’s the truth: though your palms might get sweaty at the thought, you’re probably ready to skydive right now.At least, that’s what Russell Goldman seems to think. The owner of World Skydiving Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Goldman claims that he can have most people trained and ready for their very first tandem dive in 15 minutes. If that’s not enough to put your mind at ease, we asked the expert to give us his top skydiving tips for beginners. You Don’t Need to Be an Athlete to Jump Out of an AirplaneGoldman tries to keep things as simple as possible when teaching beginners how to skydive. He starts with the good news: there are no outrageous physical requirements for jumping out of a plane. “You don’t have to be in great shape,” he said, “but you do need some ability to move your legs up and down.” Most skydiving companies also have weight limits to ensure safety. The normal limit at World Skydiving Center, for example, is 200 pounds.
Scared of Heights? It’s Not as Bad as You Think.“[Skydiving] is different than climbing a ladder,” explained Goldman. In fact, when you’re thousands of feet in the air, the elevation becomes an advantage. “We’re so high up, it almost seems not real.” Goldman finds that, while most first-timers quickly forget about the height, they do have something else on their minds. “They’re mostly worried about jumping out of the plane,” he laughed. But that’s OK—beginners don’t need all of their nerves under control. “They’re strapped to one of us [so] we’re doing the work for them.”A Roller Coaster Is More Likely to Make You SickIf you’re prone to sudden nausea, skydiving has one advantage over the typical roller coaster: “You don’t go back up.” Divers don’t feel the repetitive dropping sensation associated with thrill rides, and very few report feeling sick after their first jump. If nausea does occur, it’s likely to happen during the slow, swaying part of the canopy ride.You Won’t Have Any Trouble Breathing
According to Goldman, the only reason you might not be able to inhale during a freefall is if you’re holding your breath. “There's no difference between [breathing] in the plane and out of the plane,” he assured us. Freefall speeds reach a maximum of 120 miles per hour—while thrilling, that’s not fast enough to making breathing difficult.
Chat with Your Instructor, But Only If You Feel Like It
On clear days, Goldman and his fellow instructors at World Skydiving Center will point out sights such as the Chicago skyline on the way down. “During the canopy ride, the instructor becomes like a tour guide,” he said. But you shouldn’t feel obligated to hold a conversation if you’re just enjoying the view. “Some people are chatty. Others are quiet.” In any case, nobody’s going to get their feelings hurt.Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Preparing for your first skydive is easy enough: in short, don’t do anything differently. “We want [you] to treat it as a normal day,” said Goldman, which means waking up and eating breakfast as you normally would. He does warn against staying up late the night before.
Remember to Bring Your Glasses
Or contact lenses, if you need them. Nearly all skydiving centers provide over-the-glasses goggles for skydivers, so you won’t be stuck trying to make out the blurry scenery on your way down.
The Landing Is Usually Pretty Soft
Goldman prefers to slide people in gently on their backsides, making for a slow and steady landing. First-timers almost always dive in tandem with an instructor who knows how to make the landing as soft as possible, so there’s no need to wear those shock-absorbing shoes.Invite Your Friends and Family
“[Skydiving] is a bigtime spectator sport,” Goldman said. Most skydiving centers actually have dedicated spectator viewing areas, so dont forget to flash a thumbs-up to anyone watching the latter part of your descent—including, of course, your triumphant landing.
Photos: skydiving 024 and skydiving 014 by Laura Hadden. tandem skydiving (26) [landing] by bertknot. All Flickr photos under CC BY 2.0.

It took a couple of tries before we finally connected with Peter McClelland, a man who’s more accustomed to hearing dogs barking than cell phones ringing. As a dog-sledding expert and co-owner of White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures, McClelland spends most of his time outside among the snowy pines of Ely, Minnesota, tending to his pack of Alaskan huskies and teaching visitors the ins and outs of being a musher. Fortunately, we were able to catch the soft-spoken naturalist between dog-sledding trips to learn what an average day in his not-so-average life is like.How does your day begin?“First thing in the morning,” McClelland says, “we get up, feed the dogs, pooper-scoop the grounds, and pack our people food for the day trips. When customers start showing up, we make sure they have the right gear and are prepared for the day.”How long is your average dog-sledding trip?Most trips include a brief orientation and last from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but McClelland says that can vary depending on the distance. “On a single day,” he explains, “we’ll [sled] between 20 and 30 miles. We have a stop at lunchtime, where we build a fire and cook brats.”What’s it like to spend all that time outside?“We’re in the Superior National Forest, and it’s a spiderweb of snowy trails out here,” McClelland says, but he doesn’t seem to mind the cold. In fact, he’ll often head out on the icy rim of Lake Superior for an afternoon barbecue. Dog-sledding is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle for a while; the closest airport to Ely (population: 3,455) is two hours away, and the terrain farther out gets even more secluded.What’s your favorite part of the day?“[I love] seeing the dogs grow up and learn how to do everything,” McClelland says. “We usually start training them at four months, though they won’t pull trips until they’re over a year old.”How does your day end?“The dogs come in, everybody rubs them down, they get treats, and then they get fed their second meal.” So, what do these ultra-athletic dogs eat? “We feed them ground-up meat and a high-energy dog food that’s 32% protein and 32% fat. These dogs burn a lot of calories, so it’s a high-calorie food.” What’s something about your day that would surprise people?Films and TV shows have depicted plenty of mushers cracking whips and gruffly yelling at their team, but McClelland says it’s much more relaxed than that. “The dogs don’t have reins or anything like horses,” he tells us. “They’re hooked up to each other as a team and they follow voice commands: ‘Ge’ for right, ‘haw’ for left, ‘alright’ to go, and ‘whoa’ to stop.” People might also be surprised to learn that a dog sled doesn’t really have a place to sit down. “A sled has two runners,” McClelland explains. “You stand on the back and have a handlebar and a couple of brakes, which are your biggest friends when you’re out there.”Do you find it easy to leave your job at work when you go home?It’s hard to leave your job at work when you technically work from home. “We actually live here,” McClelland says, referring to White Wilderness’s onsite cabin. “The dogs stay outside. They each have their own house.”What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on the trail?“We ran into a wolf one time. We ran about 100 yards before our team would stop. The wolf would watch us, then catch up slowly, and when it got too close, we’d take off. It did that for about 20 minutes.” Although adventurers aren’t guaranteed to see a wolf on every trip (McClelland says the wild creatures are actually more timid than huskies), they’re sure to be dazzled by a mode of transportation that, after more than 1,000 years, is still alive and well—if you know where to look for it. Just don’t expect the dog-sledders to answer the phone every time.Read about other ways to spend time in the snow:Five Things to Know Before You Go Cross-Country SkiingHow to Build an Igloo, as Explained by an Arctic ExplorerAn Eagle Scout’s 10 Tips for Camping in the Snow

Max Aaron’s career is something of an anomaly. Most ice skaters have to make the tough choice between hockey and figure skating early on, but Aaron arrived at a different conclusion: why not both? A hockey player since the age of 3 and a figure skater since age 9, Aaron has competed extensively in both sports. Only after a back injury in 2008 did he decide to turn his full attention to figure skating, where he went on to become the 2013 US champion and 2014 US bronze medalist. Aaron has spent most of his life in skates, so it’s no wonder that he feels so comfortable on the ice. We asked him for five tips to get amateur skaters moving—and, just as important, stopping—with something resembling grace.Forget What Mom Says—Don’t Stand Up Straight
“Skating is more complicated than people think,” warns Aaron. Many newcomers get the idea that they can simply walk on the ice, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When we walk, our legs stay straight and our knees lock—a terrible formula for ice skating. Instead of standing up straight, crouch into an athletic stance. Keep your knees bent in order to lower your center of gravity and increase your chances of staying upright. You’ll find your balance better this way, even when attempting more adventurous moves such as the single-leg glide, in which the temptation to straighten out is greater.Wear Layers on Top of Layers
Indoors or out, it’s important to bundle up on the ice. That means hats, gloves, scarves, and even snow pants, depending on the weather. As Aaron puts it, “if you’re warm, you’re staying safe.” If you’re worried about losing your balance under the weight of all those layers, don’t. According to Aaron, “as long as you keep your athletic stance, you’ll be alright.”
It’s Okay if Those Skates Pinch Your Toes
Whether you’re renting skates at the rink or buying a pair, fit is key. With younger skaters, parents often size up to allow kids time to grow into their skates. But when it comes to adults, a loose fit is a big no-no. “You don’t want your toenails falling off,” says Aaron, but you do want a tighter fit than you might be used to.
When Stopping, Imitate a Snowplow
Stopping is the bane of many a beginner skater, but it’s actually not too tricky to learn. “Keep your knees bent and slowly push your feet out,” advises Aaron. “As you start to skid, point your toes in a little bit and keep your heels out, and you’ll slowly come to a complete stop.” This maneuver is known as a “snowplow stop” because the scraping of the blades on the ice will create a spray of snow.
If You Have to Fall, Fall Face First
While you shouldn’t actively try to land on your face, falling on your butt might be a worse option than falling forward. When skaters lean back too far on either blade, they’ll often put their hands behind their backs, resulting in what Aaron calls “the most dangerous thing I’ve seen.” When you fall backwards, you’re more likely to hyperextend your arms. Plus, you’ll likely be unable to catch yourself, which can lead to bigger bruises and more serious injuries. Fortunately, Aaron even has a graceful technique to prevent falling. As soon as you start to wobble, “quickly touch your knees to bring your weight back over your toes.” Most importantly, don’t let fear get in the way of fun. “The falls and sliding across the ice—it’s always a challenge,” says Aaron, “but enjoy the journey you’re on!”Photo courtesy of U.S. Figure Skating (2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships).Read about ice-skating tricks and trivia:Five Ice-Skating Tricks for Beginners The History (and Science!) of Ice Skating, in Five Facts